Aa
Could this be an autoimmune issue? Constant fatigue, brain fog & excessive thirst
Age: 26
Weight: 173 lbs
Height: 5'10"
Lives in Connecticut
Symptoms:
Brain fog, fatigue, lightheaded, extreme thirst, reaction to foods (inconsistent) and agitation
Timeline/Description:
I have had these issues for over 4 years... When I first started my job out of college, I would have random bouts with fatigue where I would have to go to my car and nap because I was so tired. As the years have gone on, this has grown more and more constant, to the point where I always have fatigue, brain fog, light-headedness and sometimes feel so "out of it" that I am afraid to drive.
Over the past two years, I have begun experiencing excessive thirst (on top of the fatigue/fog) daily, which leads me to drink well over the recommended daily water intake.
There are many times where the brain fog increases drastically following a meal but this is not always consistent. I find that when I am having a really bad day with brain fog, I am very agitated, fidgety and moody as well (not because I am not feeling well, seems more like another symptom).
More and more I have been having reactions to foods/alcohol, to the point where I turn bright red, get itchy, face gets hot and I start to have a little trouble breathing which tends to go away within an hour or so. I spent over two years getting immunotherapy for external allergens, with no relief. I was also tested for food allergies but nothing came back positive.
Other random issues that I have had over the past 4 years include increased sinus infections, ear aches and back drip, which never used to be issues for me.
I take a multivitamin daily, vitamin b-complex and a probiotic.
Doctors and Tests:
I have had appointments with my primary care physician, ENT, Allergist, Naturopath, Endocrinologist and Pulmonologist. I have been tested for mono, Lyme disease, anemia, diabetes, thyroid and what seems like all of the "go to" tests when a doctor hears fatigue. I tested negative for diabetes and negative for all other initial endocrine system tests, with the doctor feeling confident that it was not an issue within her realm.
The ENT did not see any issues with the sinuses but recommended immunotherapy. The allergist could not figure out why my two years of immunotherapy for external (dust, pollen, trees, grass) allergies did not help at all and did not believe food allergies was my issue.
My Naturopath tested my B12 and other vitamin levels with no problems popping up. After her recommendation, I went on a two month anti-candida diet (cut out all yeast, sugar, alcohol, etc) as she thought it was a yeast build up in my intestines. I stayed on the strict diet for two full months and stopped once the stool tests came back negative for yeast. While I ate extremely healthy, cut out alcohol and lost 15 pounds, I felt no better than before.
I am scheduled for a sleep test within the next two months but I feel that my lack of sleep quality is due to all of the issues I am having, not the other way around. Not to mention, a sleep issue doesn’t seem to answer the excessive thirst problem.
I am also seeing a Neurologist within the next month.
I do not believe that I have depression, though I am starting to get slightly depressed seeing as these issues have gone on for so long and have been very debilitating.
Who I Am:
I have always been a hardworking, focused and career oriented individual who loves being around people and making others laugh. Over the past four years, I have slowly turned into someone who can barely focus on simple tasks (brain fog), has put his entire career on hold hoping to find a cure (too afraid to start a new job as I can barely focus) and someone who has not been his normal self. These issues have become more and more debilitating; to the point where my entire life has revolved around how I can just get back to feeling like my old self (I can't even remember what that is like anymore). I go to bed every night praying I will just wake up and feel better, only to wake up and immediately be hit with fogginess and fatigue. I am not a depressed or suicidal person, but I honestly don't know what I'd do if I looked back in 6 months and still felt this way and/or had no clear direction on how to find a cure.
Weight: 173 lbs
Height: 5'10"
Lives in Connecticut
Symptoms:
Brain fog, fatigue, lightheaded, extreme thirst, reaction to foods (inconsistent) and agitation
Timeline/Description:
I have had these issues for over 4 years... When I first started my job out of college, I would have random bouts with fatigue where I would have to go to my car and nap because I was so tired. As the years have gone on, this has grown more and more constant, to the point where I always have fatigue, brain fog, light-headedness and sometimes feel so "out of it" that I am afraid to drive.
Over the past two years, I have begun experiencing excessive thirst (on top of the fatigue/fog) daily, which leads me to drink well over the recommended daily water intake.
There are many times where the brain fog increases drastically following a meal but this is not always consistent. I find that when I am having a really bad day with brain fog, I am very agitated, fidgety and moody as well (not because I am not feeling well, seems more like another symptom).
More and more I have been having reactions to foods/alcohol, to the point where I turn bright red, get itchy, face gets hot and I start to have a little trouble breathing which tends to go away within an hour or so. I spent over two years getting immunotherapy for external allergens, with no relief. I was also tested for food allergies but nothing came back positive.
Other random issues that I have had over the past 4 years include increased sinus infections, ear aches and back drip, which never used to be issues for me.
I take a multivitamin daily, vitamin b-complex and a probiotic.
Doctors and Tests:
I have had appointments with my primary care physician, ENT, Allergist, Naturopath, Endocrinologist and Pulmonologist. I have been tested for mono, Lyme disease, anemia, diabetes, thyroid and what seems like all of the "go to" tests when a doctor hears fatigue. I tested negative for diabetes and negative for all other initial endocrine system tests, with the doctor feeling confident that it was not an issue within her realm.
The ENT did not see any issues with the sinuses but recommended immunotherapy. The allergist could not figure out why my two years of immunotherapy for external (dust, pollen, trees, grass) allergies did not help at all and did not believe food allergies was my issue.
My Naturopath tested my B12 and other vitamin levels with no problems popping up. After her recommendation, I went on a two month anti-candida diet (cut out all yeast, sugar, alcohol, etc) as she thought it was a yeast build up in my intestines. I stayed on the strict diet for two full months and stopped once the stool tests came back negative for yeast. While I ate extremely healthy, cut out alcohol and lost 15 pounds, I felt no better than before.
I am scheduled for a sleep test within the next two months but I feel that my lack of sleep quality is due to all of the issues I am having, not the other way around. Not to mention, a sleep issue doesn’t seem to answer the excessive thirst problem.
I am also seeing a Neurologist within the next month.
I do not believe that I have depression, though I am starting to get slightly depressed seeing as these issues have gone on for so long and have been very debilitating.
Who I Am:
I have always been a hardworking, focused and career oriented individual who loves being around people and making others laugh. Over the past four years, I have slowly turned into someone who can barely focus on simple tasks (brain fog), has put his entire career on hold hoping to find a cure (too afraid to start a new job as I can barely focus) and someone who has not been his normal self. These issues have become more and more debilitating; to the point where my entire life has revolved around how I can just get back to feeling like my old self (I can't even remember what that is like anymore). I go to bed every night praying I will just wake up and feel better, only to wake up and immediately be hit with fogginess and fatigue. I am not a depressed or suicidal person, but I honestly don't know what I'd do if I looked back in 6 months and still felt this way and/or had no clear direction on how to find a cure.
Hey Mike,
23andme would be the one I would go with and when you get the raw results back
(no interpretation what-so-eve from 23andme, due to some FDA situation) you can go to the Genetic Genie for help regarding the analysis.
Just visit their website for details. there are other ones, too, but Genetic Genie is fairly straight forward.
TheNutrEval, is probably good, but not specific enough for your purposes,
in regards to your suspected genetic defect(s).
Keep me posted and I hope you get the answers you're looking for.
Cheers.
Niko
23andme would be the one I would go with and when you get the raw results back
(no interpretation what-so-eve from 23andme, due to some FDA situation) you can go to the Genetic Genie for help regarding the analysis.
Just visit their website for details. there are other ones, too, but Genetic Genie is fairly straight forward.
TheNutrEval, is probably good, but not specific enough for your purposes,
in regards to your suspected genetic defect(s).
Keep me posted and I hope you get the answers you're looking for.
Cheers.
Niko
Niko,
Thank you so much for all of your insight. I spoke with my Naturopath and they recommended I do NutrEval FMV amino acids (#86) because Genova Diagnostics will interpret the results. It sounds like the NutrEval testing only looks at a limited number of genes/enzymes though and may not be as thorough as 23andme? Which do you think is better and how do I ensure that they are deciphered correctly?
I am also getting blood tests done for the underlying infectious pathogenic conditions you listed and will provide an update on those as well.
Thanks again!!
Mike
Thank you so much for all of your insight. I spoke with my Naturopath and they recommended I do NutrEval FMV amino acids (#86) because Genova Diagnostics will interpret the results. It sounds like the NutrEval testing only looks at a limited number of genes/enzymes though and may not be as thorough as 23andme? Which do you think is better and how do I ensure that they are deciphered correctly?
I am also getting blood tests done for the underlying infectious pathogenic conditions you listed and will provide an update on those as well.
Thanks again!!
Mike
Back to the genetic link.
This has to do with methylation processes as I mentioned before-a bit too technical to get into right now in detail, but basically the result is that when you have a mutation of the MTHFR gene, the corresponding MTHFR enzyme works at a much lower rate and one of the many issues that result from this, possibly pertinent to you, in relation to your sinus issues, is that histamine produced in your body does not get broken down.
And this is just of many consequences and if left untreated, serious diseases like MS or cancer can develop.
There are many possible mutations but you need to be tested mainly for
677 and 1298 , so you need to hook up with a knowledgeable geneticist
who can also treat you.
There has been considerable research that shows one or more MTHFR mutations may play a role in cancer, stroke, heart problems, congenital defects, depression, IBS , miscarriages, migraines, chemical sensitivities, schizophrenia-like syndromes, bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
MTHFR Gene testing. One of the least expensive places for this is
23andMe, which will send you back "raw data" which needs interpretation.
No problem. If you decide for that , let me know and I can give you a couple links where you can upload the data and get the answers for free .
The good news is that it is treatable (to a great extend)
Should you have one of this gene's 40-50 mutations (it is actually quite common), please let us know which one.
Also, underlying infectious pathogenic conditions, such as mycoplasma, babesia, ehrlichia, bartonella etc, considering your medical history, have to be ruled out, as well, as they are A/I mimickers. The good news is that these infectious conditions are treatable!
Your doctors are not likely to help you with these.
Just do search here under Dr. Garth Nicolson, a part time contributor in medhelp and the world's top expert in these types of infections regarding
diagnosis and treatment
They are notoriously difficult to diagnose and to treat, leaving the majority
of sufferers undiagnosed or worse misdiagnosed as CFS,FMS and other conditions.
Hope this helps, but please note that my comments and suggestions are
not intended to replace medical advice.
Best wishes.
Niko
This has to do with methylation processes as I mentioned before-a bit too technical to get into right now in detail, but basically the result is that when you have a mutation of the MTHFR gene, the corresponding MTHFR enzyme works at a much lower rate and one of the many issues that result from this, possibly pertinent to you, in relation to your sinus issues, is that histamine produced in your body does not get broken down.
And this is just of many consequences and if left untreated, serious diseases like MS or cancer can develop.
There are many possible mutations but you need to be tested mainly for
677 and 1298 , so you need to hook up with a knowledgeable geneticist
who can also treat you.
There has been considerable research that shows one or more MTHFR mutations may play a role in cancer, stroke, heart problems, congenital defects, depression, IBS , miscarriages, migraines, chemical sensitivities, schizophrenia-like syndromes, bipolar disorder, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and more.
MTHFR Gene testing. One of the least expensive places for this is
23andMe, which will send you back "raw data" which needs interpretation.
No problem. If you decide for that , let me know and I can give you a couple links where you can upload the data and get the answers for free .
The good news is that it is treatable (to a great extend)
Should you have one of this gene's 40-50 mutations (it is actually quite common), please let us know which one.
Also, underlying infectious pathogenic conditions, such as mycoplasma, babesia, ehrlichia, bartonella etc, considering your medical history, have to be ruled out, as well, as they are A/I mimickers. The good news is that these infectious conditions are treatable!
Your doctors are not likely to help you with these.
Just do search here under Dr. Garth Nicolson, a part time contributor in medhelp and the world's top expert in these types of infections regarding
diagnosis and treatment
They are notoriously difficult to diagnose and to treat, leaving the majority
of sufferers undiagnosed or worse misdiagnosed as CFS,FMS and other conditions.
Hope this helps, but please note that my comments and suggestions are
not intended to replace medical advice.
Best wishes.
Niko
Hey Mike,
Just a couple things and I'll continue later in another post.
Re: Candida testing.
--Stool testing will show if your levels of yeast are within a "normal" range,
a statistical model, which reflects an average of what is normal for many other people but may not necessarily indicate a level of yeast that is "normal" for your body.
---Blood testing. Besides allergic type of reactions, anti body blood tests will not reveal other types of immune responses and consequences in other body systems outside the blood circulation, which are also possible reactions to increased candida levels.
Should you indeed have candida which was not detected, 2 months of treatment and strict diet will not eradicate it.
It takes average of 1-2 months of strict treatment per year from the onset of candida (not the symptoms, as you may be unsymptomatic for years!).
Have you ruled out MTHFR gene mutation or other undermethylation issues?
Please let me know. About 40% of all people have this gene defect, which
affects them in varying degrees and ways.
Did you get a homocysteine test for Neurological B12 (methylocobalamin)?
The standard mma test for B12 does not show this.
It's related to undermethylation.
Polydipsia, which is excessive thirst and the resulting excessive water intake, is often caused by very high production of aldosterone ( adrenal hormone) and leading to very low potassium. This needs to be ruled out.
An endocrinologist or Urologist would probably the type of doctor to see for this.
Also Osmotic diuresis needs to be ruled out, as it is another possible cause.
You may have to see a Nephrologist (kidney specialist) or Urologist for this.
I'll post again more, but for now, you're welcome to reply and comment.
Best wishes.
Niko
Just a couple things and I'll continue later in another post.
Re: Candida testing.
--Stool testing will show if your levels of yeast are within a "normal" range,
a statistical model, which reflects an average of what is normal for many other people but may not necessarily indicate a level of yeast that is "normal" for your body.
---Blood testing. Besides allergic type of reactions, anti body blood tests will not reveal other types of immune responses and consequences in other body systems outside the blood circulation, which are also possible reactions to increased candida levels.
Should you indeed have candida which was not detected, 2 months of treatment and strict diet will not eradicate it.
It takes average of 1-2 months of strict treatment per year from the onset of candida (not the symptoms, as you may be unsymptomatic for years!).
Have you ruled out MTHFR gene mutation or other undermethylation issues?
Please let me know. About 40% of all people have this gene defect, which
affects them in varying degrees and ways.
Did you get a homocysteine test for Neurological B12 (methylocobalamin)?
The standard mma test for B12 does not show this.
It's related to undermethylation.
Polydipsia, which is excessive thirst and the resulting excessive water intake, is often caused by very high production of aldosterone ( adrenal hormone) and leading to very low potassium. This needs to be ruled out.
An endocrinologist or Urologist would probably the type of doctor to see for this.
Also Osmotic diuresis needs to be ruled out, as it is another possible cause.
You may have to see a Nephrologist (kidney specialist) or Urologist for this.
I'll post again more, but for now, you're welcome to reply and comment.
Best wishes.
Niko
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